Small businesses in Canada recognize the importance of a well-designed, user-friendly website in the COVID-19 era. More than ever, Canadians are shopping online.
In May of 2020, e-commerce sales in Canada reached $3.9B, an increase of almost 100% over February 2020. Reports across the country have indicated that retailers expect e-commerce rates to remain high, which has caused many retailers to adjust their marketing plans to account for online shopping.
Even in cases where Canadians are shopping in-person, they more likely than ever to look up a business online before purchasing goods or services.
Website Requirements for Businesses in 2020
Whether a business website is a DIY project or will be professionally designed by marketing specialists and website developers in Canada, choosing a platform is one of the first major decisions a business has to make.
There are plenty of options for website platforms out there, and most have distinct pros and cons. No matter what, there are a few boxes every e-commerce website in Canada should check off:
- Functionality
- Fast load speeds
- Search engine optimization
- Security
- Flexibility
- Responsiveness
Why Most Small Businesses in Canada Are Using WordPress
WordPress is one of the top CMS (content management systems) choices for businesses in Canada in 2020. About 35% of the entire web is powered by WordPress.
A few of the benefits of a WordPress site for Canadian businesses include:
- Endless plugin options for virtually any form of functionality
- Fast load speeds and excellent SEO opportunities for increased traffic
- A high level of security, which is essential for online purchases and consumer safety
Let’s look at a few other reasons WordPress is a popular choice for businesses in Canada.
Ease of Use
Whether you’re a novice or an expert, WordPress is user-friendly. You may choose to design your website in WordPress yourself or have a professional website designer and developer create one. Either way, it’s easy to understand and use.
Publishing and changing content on a regular basis is simple, and maintenance is straightforward. This results in a website that can be continuously updated without major ongoing costs.
Customization and Functionality
Templates and themes make it simple for DIY website projects. However, there are also plenty of customization options for those who need their website to perform specific functions. The various plugins offered by WordPress give you room to add features like e-commerce and automated content management, among many other options.
Responsive and Mobile-Friendly
According to CIRA, Canadians are shifting each year toward accessing the internet on mobile phones instead of desktops and laptops. This is why responsiveness is essential for websites. If your website doesn’t resize properly for mobile phones and tablets, the content will be virtually useless, and you’ll lose potential customers instantly! WordPress is extremely mobile-friendly and provides plenty of tools for building a completely responsive website. This also contributes to better SEO, which means you’ll generate more leads from your online presence.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) ensures your website ranks higher on Google searches. This means more visibility for your brands and more purchases online and in-store. For example, if you have a physical storefront in Edmonton, Canada, you’ll want to ensure your website is optimized for those searching for your services in Edmonton.
WordPress is extremely SEO-friendly, offering multiple ways to improve your SEO using its intuitive tools. You can also download plugins like Yoast SEO to monitor and make suggestions for SEO on each page or post.
Check out this video “SEO for Beginners” by Jared VanderMeer if you are interested to learn more about SEO.
WordPress is an Essential Tool for Canadian Businesses
As small businesses in Canada rush to improve their online presence, questions about the best CMS systems in Canada are coming up more regularly. If you have questions about business websites, e-commerce, or marketing in Canada, reach out to discuss them with the Magnolias Consulting team. Our marketing experts in Edmonton are ready to reach out and help any business across Canada at any time of day.
This article was contributed by Jared VanderMeer| MagnoliasConsulting.com
